Lebanon: Maronite Bishops stress the need to elect new president

Published November 7th, 2007 - 19:25 GMT

Maronite Bishops warned Wednesday that Lebanon would fall apart if its politicians failed to reach understanding on electing a new president

Maronite Bishops warned Wednesday that Lebanon would fall apart if its politicians failed to reach understanding on electing a new president, noting that Parliament should shoulder the "final" responsibility of choosing a head of state.

The warning was made in a statement issued by the bishops after their monthly meeting under Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir. "We reiterate our urgent call for dominating the spirit of entente so that the presidential election can be achieved in line with Lebanon's constitution," the statement said, according to Naharnet.

"Insistence by both groups on their stands places the whole country in a deep impasse and total paralysis. This would block not just the democratic system that characterizes Lebanon, but it could lead to previously non-encountered disintegration," the statement added.

The statement noted, the "final responsibility (for electing a president) rests with parliament. It is an historic responsibility."